Gaming Continuum Decay Mechanism for Sustained Player Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaming machines lack features that provide sustained excitement and anticipation across multiple game rounds, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance player engagement.

Innovation Solution

A gaming machine system featuring a gaming continuum display that advances randomly upon wager activation, enters a decay state after each game outcome, and persists across rounds, with audio and visual indicators that vary based on the continuum's state, offering a dynamic and engaging experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional slot machine games are used, then the game structure is simple and easy to understand, but player engagement and excitement are insufficient across multiple rounds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayer engagementVSAvoidgame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming continuum is pre-configured with multiple states (first state, second state, third state) before gameplay begins. The system determines in advance whether the continuum will transition to the second state or remain in the first state, creating anticipation and persistent engagement across multiple rounds without complicating the core game structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming continuum dynamically transitions between different states (first, second, third) based on game outcomes and random determinations. This dynamic state changes create varying levels of excitement and anticipation across rounds, enhancing player engagement while maintaining a relatively simple underlying game structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If persistent features are added to affect game results across multiple rounds, then player anticipation and excitement are enhanced, but the game complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersistent feature functionalityVSAvoidfeature game structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The persistent feature is segmented into distinct, manageable components: the gaming continuum with its specific states (first, second, third), the decay mechanism, and the interaction with base game outcomes. This segmentation allows the persistent feature to be implemented without overwhelming complexity, as each component has a specific, well-defined function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming continuum serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tracks persistent state across rounds, determines game outcomes, provides visual feedback to players, and interacts with bonus features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex systems while still providing engaging persistent features across multiple rounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the gaming continuum decays to the lowest state, then the game returns to initial conditions, but player engagement may decrease without intermediate states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame state resetVSAvoidplayer engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gaming continuum implements periodic decay to the lowest state, but intersperses this with intermediate states (second state, third state) that provide varying levels of engagement. This periodic structure ensures the game eventually resets while maintaining player interest through intermediate achievement states and variable decay timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The gaming continuum uses temporary, short-lived state configurations (second state, third state) that naturally decay back to the lowest state. These temporary high-engagement states provide excitement without requiring permanent structural changes, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while offering varied player experiences across rounds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11783676B2Gaming machine and method having persistent continuum feature

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 EVERI GAMES INC

AI summary

A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum or totally advances the gaming continuum, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.